JP3079137B2 - Roof structures for automobiles, especially passenger cars - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a solid front roof portion in a closed functional position following a roof front cant rail of a vehicle body and a solid rear roof portion with rear glass forming a C-pillar portion, These two roof parts are pivotally connected to each other and can be moved between a rest position lowered by a control mechanism and a closed functional position, and in the rest position where both roof parts are lowered, the C-pillar part is relates rear in the functional position run line vehicle longitudinal direction
To be directed to protrude toward front Te, associated with motor vehicle in particular roof construction of passenger vehicles the rear roof part is swung about a horizontal transverse axis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of roof structure is known as Mercedes-Benz SLK-Roadste.
rn). The roof structure has a solid front shingle (roof section) which is locked to the roof front cantilever of the vehicle body in the closed functional position. Rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is a rear roof part in the form of a rigid shingle on the front roof part, which is swingably connected to the front roof part. The rear roof has a C-pillar (rear pillar) surrounding both sides of the rear glass. The rear shingle runs in the area of the lower end of the C-pillar portion, so that the rear shingle is lowered into the car compartment so that the C-pillar portion of the rear shingle projects forward in the rest position where the rear roof portion is lowered. It is swingably supported on a traveling vehicle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle around a fixed swing axis.
The containment chamber is located in the trunk area of the vehicle body. When the roof structure is lowered, very little storage space remains to store luggage.

[0003]

It is an object of the present invention to improve a roof structure of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the useful storage space in the area of the trunk of the motor vehicle is increased.

[0004]

This object according to the present invention, in order to solve the problems], in the rest position which is lowered even without least, C-pillar
The rear end in the functional position of the part is less in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle
Both out collision without transverse binder over a portion, as the C-pillar portion at least partially surrounding the lateral rear seats range vehicle interior chamber in the rest position, resting the rear roof part
Control means for moving forward is accomplished by provided regarding the vehicle longitudinal direction at the position.

[0005] Thus, roof after being pre-hinged to the roof portion, after drawn into the down or receiving chamber in the course, because it is moved forward by a predetermined distance, further, the passenger The accommodation room is enlarged by the distance that the roof structure has moved forward in the trunk area. Therefore between vehicle interior chamber of the rear seat empty range inside of the vehicle body on both sides beside the within are advantageously utilized. Such a space is already already present in the case of open cars, usually with a flat U-shaped roof receiving box. Thus generally, between the side partition and the vehicle body outer skin of the back seat range of vehicle interior chamber, the entire C-pillar portion of the rear roof part, therefore there is sufficient space the entire roof structure is moved forward doing. In the present invention Therefore, in the rest position which is lowered even without low, as the C-pillar portion freely projecting over a portion of the vehicle longitudinal, rear glass is C
It is assumed to be located between the pillars portion. This feature according to the invention, releasably disposed a relatively short after one surface glass is obtained by being arranged in the form I hit write to the end after the C-pillar portion or rear glass the rear roof part And easily separated from the rear roof part for the lowered rest position. In the same way, the rear glass can be formed into a two-part structure over its length, and only the glass part present between the rear ends of the C-pillar part can be removed or moved as it is lowered to the rest position.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, a surface glass after use as horizontal binder in the range of the end after the C-pillar portion is disposed in the rear roof part to be separated from the C-pillar portion. The rear glass is swingably supported by the rear roof part and can be lowered together with the roof structure into the trunk area of the vehicle body, in which case the rear glass is in a lowered rest position to free the C-pillar part. I am taking. Alternatively, the rear glass can be removed from the rear roof part and stored separately from the roof structure in the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as the C-pillar portion freely projecting over a portion of the vehicle longitudinal, rear glass is at least partly in it hit write I shape with respect to the C-pillar portion It is located on the rear roof. Closed sports car (Ferrari)
In, directly followed by a rear glass in a rear seat range of vehicle interior chamber is positioned at a steep gradient, it is known to the C-pillar portion of the extension if shape pull back significantly to this rear surface glass. Roof after open car of the present invention also, by being more stretched back beyond the surface glass after being steep C-pillar portion (placed in a closed functional position), and the closed-type sports car It is formed in the same way.

In another embodiment of the invention, the front and rear roof portions can be lowered from their closed functional position by an upper parallelogram linkage, and the lower support of the upper parallelogram linkage can be lowered. The point is that part of the lower guide that is fixedly supported on the vehicle body and used as control means. This allows the lower support point used as the base of the parallelogram linkage, which is responsible for the lowering movement of the front and rear roof parts, to be easily moved forward, which also lowers the roof structure. At the rest position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the lower guide is formed as a parallelogram linkage. This is a particularly simple way to move the roof part forward.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper parallelogram link mechanism and the lower parallelogram link mechanism have link parts of the same shape on both sides of the roof portion, and the movement process is the same for these link parts. A synchronizer is provided for This ensures particularly good functional security of the parallelogram linkage.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a forced guide device is provided between the upper and lower parallelogram link mechanisms in order to synchronously superimpose the movements of these parallelogram link mechanisms. . As a result, the lowering movement and the forward movement of the roof structure are performed at the same time, so that the time of the lowering process or the lifting process of the roof structure is reduced.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a swing lever device acting on the rear roof portion and fixedly supported on the traveling vehicle is provided as a forced guide device. This simple mechanical form is maintenance-free and guarantees long-term functional safety. This is in contrast to other embodiments of the invention in which a tensioning device in the form of a chain or belt transmission, which must be provided with a tensioning device to compensate for the loosening of the tensioning means, is provided as a forced guide. It is advantageous.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the rocking lever device is provided as a driving portion for opening and closing a protective cover for closing a storage room of a roof structure. The rocking lever device thereby has a dual function, as it is used for controlling the protective cover and for synchronizing the movement of the double parallelogram linkage. As a result, the rocking lever device can be connected to the protective cover via a suitable movement mechanism or directly.

[0014] Further advantages and features of the invention can be clearly understood from the dependent claims and the description of advantageous embodiments of the invention with reference to the following figures.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 to 7 , the passenger car 1 has a traveling vehicle interior chamber composed of a driver seat area and a rear seat area 4. The interior space of the traveling vehicle is bounded forward by a front glass, A pillars (front columns) on both sides of the vehicle body, and a roof front cantilever 5 connecting the two A pillars to each other above the front glass. The interior space of the traveling vehicle is bounded upward and backward by a front roof part 2 and a rear roof part 3. These two roof parts 2, 3 can be moved between a functional position for closing the interior of the vehicle and a rest position lowered into the trunk area 6 of the passenger car. The front roof portion 2 and the rear roof portion 3 are made of a plastic material or a sheet metal press-formed product and are formed in a plate-like (shell-like) shape in a stable manner. The front roof part 2 follows the roof front cantilever 5 and is fixed thereto by a lock in the closed functional position. The front roof part 2 extends rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the level of the transition from the driver's seat area of the vehicle interior to the rear seat area. A rear roof portion 3 is connected to the front roof portion 2 behind the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle. The rear roof portion 3 is supported by the front roof portion 2 by a hinge so as to be swingable about a swing shaft 12 extending horizontally and horizontally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle. The rear roof part 3 has a roof area that closely follows the front roof part 2. This roof area transitions into a C-pillar section 7, which extends on both sides downward to the edge of the vehicle body. A rear glass 8 stepped in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle extends between the two C pillar portions 7 over the width of the rear roof portion 3. The lower part of the rear glass 8 is C
It is steeper than the pillar part 7. This end after C-pillar portion 7, to form a free space that follows the rear glass 8 between the C-pillar portion 7 and the rear glass 8 in the functional position the closed front and rear roof parts 2 It protrudes freely to the trunk range 6. End after the C-pillar portion 7 thus formed in the fin-like or wedge-shaped.

The movable roof structures, ie the front and rear roof parts 2, 3, are lowered from their closed function position (see FIGS. 1, 4) into the trunk area 6 of the passenger car 1 shown in FIGS . 1 and 6. In order to be able to lower to the set rest position, the front roof part 2 of the roof front cantilever 5 is first unlocked. Subsequently, the rear roof part 3 is arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle provided in the area of the lower end of the C-pillar part 7 by a control mechanism to be described later and preferably a hydraulic driving device (not shown). Is swung down into a storage chamber (not shown) of the trunk area 6 behind the swing shaft 16 extending therethrough. At the same time, the front roof part 2, which is swingably connected to the rear roof part 3, is lowered into the trunk area 6 by translation by means of a control mechanism, and the front roof part 2 is jack-knife-shaped on the rear roof part 3. To be placed. The rear roof portion 3 is arranged in its lowered rest position such that the collision edge with the front roof portion 2 projects rearward, and the C-pillar portion 7 projects forward in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle. In further, trunk range 6
The entire roof structure lowered into the interior of the vehicle is moved forward by the control mechanism in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as will be described later, whereby the rear glass 8 comes into contact with the partition wall of the accommodation room directly following the rear seat area 4. , end after projecting fin-like C-pillar portion 7, accommodated which extends forwardly between the vehicle body side outer skin and the side wall of the rear seat range 4 of vehicle internal chamber adjacent to it on both sides of the rear seats range 4 extending building forwardly into the chamber portion. This additional forward movement of the roof structures 2, 3 enlarges the openings present for loading and unloading in the trunk area 6 as well as the residual storage space. In the illustrated embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7, the rear glass 8 is made very steep (as described above), so that there is free space between the lower ends of the C-pillar sections 7 on both sides. As a result, the fin-shaped tip of the C-pillar section 7 extends forward beside and beside the rear seat area 4.

On the other hand, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear roof portion 3a extends straight to the outer skin of the rear roof portion 3a and extends to the lower end of the C pillar portion of the rear roof portion 3a. 8a. Nevertheless, in order to be able to lower and move the roof structures 2a, 3a forward in a manner analogous to the control of the roof parts 2, 3 of FIG. In the case of the embodiment, the rear glass 8a is releasably disposed in the receiving portion 8b of the rear roof portion 3a between the C pillar portions on both sides. The rear glass 8a is hinged to the front roof part 2a by a suitable control mechanism, released from the receiving part 8a of the rear roof part 3a during the lowering process and lowered to the position shown in FIG. Holding the rear glass 8a releasably exclusively in the receiving part 8a of the rear roof part 3a without coupling to the front roof part 2a;
Can be removed from the rear roof part 3a before lowering the roof structure. After lowering the roof structures 2a, 3a, the rear glass 8a is separately lowered into the storage compartment of the trunk area 6a and is positioned, in particular, as in FIGS. In the case of the embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, the C-pillar section projects almost completely freely in the lowered rest position forward from the roof area of the rear roof section 3a, so that it extends forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Of the roof structures 2a, 3a can be very large, so that the C-pillar part can be pushed very deeply into the lateral area of the accommodation room closed by the roof accommodation box lid 9.
All major functional components of the control mechanism for moving forward down the roof structure 2a, the 3a see Figure 7 relates to 4 to the roof structure 2, 3 in FIGS. 1-7 and FIG. 4 This corresponds to a control mechanism described later.

A bracket 1 is provided below the lower end of the C pillar 7.
7 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) is fixed. The rear roof portion 3 is supported by the bracket 17 so as to be swingable about a swing shaft 16 that extends horizontally and horizontally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle. At the same time , the front roof is driven by the parallelogram linkage 10 whose operation diagram is shown in broken lines.
Is lowered onto the rear roof part 3 by parallel movement of part 2 is made in the rear filtrate downwardly with a rear roof part 3. One parallelogram link of the parallelogram linkage 10 is directly defined by the rear roof part 3 and the upper support points 12 between the rear roof part 3 and the front roof part 2. The other parallelogram link of the parallelogram link mechanism 10 is formed by an S-shaped warped link 14. This link 14
The lower hinge point is pivotally connected to the connection link 24 about the hinge shaft 15, and the upper hinge point 13 is hinged to the front roof portion 2 in a manner not shown. The connecting link 24 is a part of the lower parallelogram link mechanism 11 shown by a broken line. Since the range of the lower hinge point, that is, the range of the base of the lower parallelogram link mechanism 11 is fixed and supported on the vehicle body, the upper parallelogram link mechanism 10 is also a lower parallelogram link mechanism. 11 and fixedly supported on the vehicle body. The lower parallelogram link mechanism 11 includes, on the one hand, a parallelogram link 20 which can swing about a swing shaft 23 fixed to the vehicle body, and on the other hand, a swing shaft 22 extending parallel thereto and fixed to the vehicle body. It is formed by a parallelogram link 21 pivotally supported as a center. The lower parallelogram link mechanism 11 moves the folded roof structures 2 and 3 in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle, and more specifically, moves the folded roof structures 2 and 3 forward in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle to be placed in the lowered rest position. , Is moved back in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to lift it again in the closed functional position. In order to strengthen the individual components of the control mechanism, parallelogram linkages are formed in pairs according to FIG. However, this does not change the function described above.
In order to synchronize the left part of the control mechanism shown in FIG. 7 with the identically shaped part on the opposite side, the rocking shaft 23 is arranged horizontally across the width of the vehicle and on the opposite side of the parallelogram. It has a synchronous shaft that extends to the link 20 and is labeled the same. The introduction of the driving force into the parallelogram link 20 used as a driving lever is performed via a synchronous shaft 23.

The two parallelogram linkages 10, 11 are connected via tensioning devices 19, 25 used as transmission means.
They are connected to each other such that their movements are superimposed. The tensioning device, which is formed as a belt transmission in the illustrated embodiment, has a pulley 19 fixedly held on the vehicle body coaxially with the pivot shaft 23. During the swinging movement of the parallelogram link 20, the belt 25 rotates around the outer periphery of the pulley 19. Portion of the pulley 19 of the belt 25 opposite side is wound around the pulley which is non-rotatably coupled to the pivot shaft 16. A predetermined transmission ratio is defined between the pulley and the pulley 19. By actuating the parallelogram link 20 by means of a drive not shown, the belt 25 rotates on the pulley 19 and simultaneously the swing shaft 16 and the bracket 1
Via 7 the rear roof part 3 is rotated backwards from the closed functional position.

A second belt transmission 26 is provided. The belt is on the one hand a belt transmission 25, 19
Rotates on a pulley disposed on a swing shaft 16 coaxially with respect to the smaller pulley so that it cannot rotate relative thereto, and on the other hand, rotates on a pulley fixed to a swing lever 14. The rocking lever 14 is thereby supported against the longitudinal force of the lever by the application of a torque, so that the upper parallelogram linkage 10 is locked (in particular in the end position near its dead center). It can be moved without fear of sticking. The second belt drive system 26 is at least approximately 1: 1 has a transmission ratio, the transmission ratio of this, determines Luke not prestress is given to the rocking lever 14 via a belt transmission device <br/> By this prestress , the front roof portion 2 can be easily swung away from the near / dead center position.

Therefore, both parallelogram link mechanisms 10,
By means of 11, the roof structures 2, 3 can be moved from the closed function position shown in FIG. 4 to the lowered and forwardly moved rest position shown in FIG. By the opposite control movement, the lowered roof structures 2, 3 can be moved from their lowered rest position to the closed functional position in FIGS. 1 and 4 again.

The roof structure of the embodiment in FIGS. 8 to 10 likewise has a front roof part 2a and a rear roof part 3a with a C-pillar part 7a. This roof structure 2
The upper parallelogram link mechanism 10a and the lower parallelogram link mechanism 11a are attached to each of the upper and lower parallelogram link mechanisms 10a and 11a for folding and moving the same forward. The link mechanism 11a corresponds to the parallelogram link mechanism of the embodiment in FIGS. This is made clear by the fact that the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 4 to 7 are used for each functional component of the movement mechanism, only with the suffix a.
The parts of the parallelogram link mechanisms 10a, 11a denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 4 to 7 have the same functions as the parts of the parallelogram link mechanisms 10, 11 of the embodiment in FIGS. Therefore, the description is omitted here. The folding movement of the roof structures 2a, 3a is performed by the roof structures 2a, 3a.
In order to synchronize the lifting and forward movement of the swing lever, the embodiment in FIGS. 8 to 10 does not have a belt transmission as in the embodiment in FIGS. A device 27 is provided. The swing lever device 27 acts on a hinge point 29 in the range of the lower end of each C pillar portion of the rear roof portion 3a, and the other end is swingably supported by a support 28 fixed to the traveling vehicle. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 to 10, the swinging lever device 27 first performs an upward swinging motion during the lowering and forward moving processes of the roof structures 2a, 3a, followed by a downward swinging motion. Carry out exercise. Of course rocking lever device 2
7 is sized to the dimensions of both parallelogram linkages 10a, 11a so that it is integrated into the movement mechanism without causing blockade.

The swinging lever device 27 is used for forcibly opening and closing the protective cover of the vehicle body for closing the accommodation room for the roof structures 2a, 3a in a manner not shown. The protective cover is temporarily opened while the lower parallelogram link mechanism 11a rotates forward by the lifting motion and the lowering motion of the swing lever device 27.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a convertible with a roof structure according to the present invention, the roof structure being shown in a lowered rest position as well as in a closed functional position.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a roof structure according to the present invention in an open car in which a rear glass is separably disposed on a rear roof portion.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the roof structure in FIG. 2 lowered to the trunk area of the vehicle body.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a control mechanism for lifting both front and rear roof portions of the roof structure in FIG. 1 and moving the same forward.

5 is an enlarged side view of the lower parallelogram link mechanism of the control mechanism in FIG. 4 for moving the folded roof structure forward.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the roof structure in a rest position lowered into the trunk area of the passenger car and moved forward in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a control mechanism for the roof structure in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a different embodiment of a roof structure according to the invention in a closed functional position, provided with a rocking lever device for synchronizing the folding and forward movement of the roof structure. I have.

9 is a side view of the roof structure in FIG. 8 in a half-open state.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the roof structure of FIGS. 8 and 9 in a rest position, folded and moved forward;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Passenger car 2, 2a Front roof part 3, 3a Rear roof part 7, 7a C pillar part8, 8a Rear glass  10, 10a Upper parallelogram link mechanism 11, 11a Lower parallelogram link mechanism 15 Hingeaxis  16Swing axis  19 pulley 25 belt 27 swing lever device

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Oliver Wagner, Germany 70794 Filder Schuttät Oberdorfschüller 21 (56) References JP-A-8-175187 (JP, A) JP-A-7-215066 (JP, A) JP-A-7-69071 (JP, A) JP-B-6-26930 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60J 7/08, 7/12

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] In a closed functional position there is a solid front roof section following the roof front cant rail of the vehicle body and a solid rear roof section with rear glass and forming a C-pillar section, both roof sections being It is pivotally connected to each other and can be moved between a rest position lowered by a control mechanism and a closed function position, and in the rest position in which both roof parts are lowered, in the function position of the C-pillar part.
As the rear end is directed to protrude toward front and relates run row vehicle longitudinal direction that, the swinging of the rear roof part around a horizontal transverse axis
In the automotive particular roof construction of passenger vehicles, in hibernation position also rather small, C-pillar portion (7a)
Out collision without transverse binder over at least a portion the rear end in the functional position the vehicle longitudinal direction, C-pillar portion (7
a ) in the rest position, the rear seat area (4)
laterally to at least partially surround the a), control means for <br/> related to vehicle longitudinal direction in the rest position the rear roof part (3 a) Te moves forward (11 a) is provided And the lateral coupling in the range of the rear end of the C pillar portion (7a)
The rear glass (8a) used as the material is the C pillar part
(7a) Separable on rear roof (3a)
A roof structure characterized by being made . 2. The vehicle body in a closed functional position.
Robust front roof line following the front cant rail
A strong rear house with a rear glass and a C-pillar section
With a root part, these two roof parts can swing to each other
Rest position and closed, combined and lowered by control mechanism
Can be moved to and from the function position
In the function position of the C-pillar part
The rear end of the vehicle
So that the rear roof is swung about the horizontal axis.
Of the C-pillar section (7) , at least in the at-rest position, in the roof structure of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car,
The rear end at the active position is at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle.
Protruding without a lateral binder over the C-pillar part (7)
In the rear seat range (4)
Rear roof part to at least partially enclose the side
(3) at the rest position, forward in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle
Control means (11) for moving to
The C-pillar part (7) is small in the longitudinal direction of the traveling vehicle.
At least part of the rear glass
(8) is at least with respect to the rear end of the C pillar portion (7).
Partially steep and retracted shape with rear roof
(3) A roof structure which is arranged in (3). 3. The front parallelogram linkage (10) wherein the front roof portion (2) and the rear roof portion (3) can be lowered from its closed functional position by an upper parallelogram linkage (10). Lower support points (15, 1
The roof structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein 6) is a part of a lower guide device (11) fixedly supported on the vehicle body and used as control means. 4. The lower guide device is formed as a parallelogram linkage (11).
3. The roof structure according to 3 . 5. An upper parallelogram linkage (10) and a lower parallelogram linkage (11) comprising a roof part (2,
5. Roof structure according to claim 4 , characterized in that link parts of the same shape are provided on both sides of (3), and that a synchronization device (23) is attached to these link parts in order to make their movement process identical. . 6. An upper and lower biparallelogram link mechanism (10,
11) meanwhile, these double parallelogram linkages (10,
To synchronously superimposed motion of 11), forced guidance device (19, 25) claims 1, characterized in that is provided a roof structure according to any one of the 5. 7. A rear roof part (3) as a forced guide device.
7. Roof structure according to claim 6 , characterized in that a rocking lever device (27 to 29) acting on (a) and fixedly supported on the traveling vehicle is provided. 8. The swing lever device (27-29) is provided as a drive part for opening and closing a protective cover for closing a storage room of a roof structure (2a, 3a). The roof structure according to claim 7 . 9. The roof structure according to claim 8, wherein the swing lever device is integrally connected to the protective cover.